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IS 13360-5-23 (1996): Plastics - Methods of Testing, Part

5: Mechanical Properties, Section 23: Determination of Tear
resistance of Plastics Film and Sheeting - Elmendorf Method
[PCD 12: Plastics]

“!ान $ एक न' भारत का +नम-ण”

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 IS 13360 ( Part 5/Set 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6383-2 : 1983
( Reaffirmed 2003 )
mm

Indian Standard
PLASTICS - METHODS OF TESTING
PART 5 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Section 23 Determination of Tear Resistance of Plastics Film and Sheeting - Elmendsrf Method

ICS 63.140

(B BIS 1996

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI l10C02

August I996 Price Group 3

‘i, .*’
Methods of Test for Plastics Sectional Committee, PCD 23

NATIONAL FOREWORD
This Indian Standard which is identical with IS0 6883/Z : 1983 ‘Plastics - Determination of tear resistance
of plastics film and sheeting - Elmendorf Method’, issued by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on the recommendation of Methods of Test for
Plastics Sectional Committee and approval of the Petroleum, Coal and Related Products Division Council.
The text of IS0 standard has been approved as suitable for publication as Indian Standard without deviations.
Certain conventions are, however, not identical to those used in Indian Standards. Attention is particularly
drawn to the following:

a) Wherever the words ‘International Standard’ appear referring to this standard, they should be read
as ‘Indian Standard’.
b) Comma (,) has been used as a decimal marker while in Indian Standards, the current practice is to
use a point (.) as the decimal marker.
In this adopted standard reference appears to certain International Standards for which Indian Standards
also exist. The corresponding Indian Standards which are to be substituted in their place are listed below
along with their degree of equivalence for the editions indicated :
International Standard Corresponding Indian Standard Degree of
Equivalence

IS0 291 : 1977 Plastics - Standard IS 196 : 1966 Atmospheric conditions Technically
atmospheres for conditioning for testing ( revised) equivalent
and testing
IS0 4591 : 1992 Plastics - Film and Nil -
sheeting - Determination of average
thickness of a sample, and average
thickness and yield of a roll, by
gravimetric techniques (Gravimetric
thickness)
IS0 4593 : 1993 Plastics - Film and -
sheeting - Determination of thick-
ness by mechanical scanning

In the case of IS0 4591 and IS0 4593, the Technical Committee responsible for the preparation of this
standard has reviewed its contents and has decided that they are acceptable for use in conjuction with this
standard.
For tropical countries like India, the standard temperature and the relative humidity shall be taken as
27 f 2 “C and 65 f 5 percent respectively.
In reporting the results of a test or analysis in accordance with this standard, if the final value, observed or
calculated, is to be rounded off, it sJall be done in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 ‘Rules for rounding off
numerical values ( revised )‘.
 IS 13360 (PartWec23) : 1996
IS0 6363-2 : 1963

Indian Standard
PLASTICS - METHODS OF TESTING
PART 5 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Section 23 Determination of Tear Resistance of Plastics Film and Sheeting - Elmendotf Method

0 Introduction 2 References

IS0 6383 consists of the following parts : IS0 291, Pyastics - stenderd 8tmosphefes for conditioning
8nd testing.
Part 1 : Trouser tear method.
Part 2 : Elmendorf method. IS0 4691, fl8StiCS - Film 8nd sheeting - 08termination of
8V8f8g8 thickness of 8 S8m@8 and 8ViW8g8 thickness 8nd yield
of 8 roll by grevimetric techniques (gr8vimetric thicknessl.
1 Scope and field of application
IS0 4683, F%stics - Film and sheeting - Determination of
thickn8ss by mechanicel scanning.
1.1 This part of IS0 6383 specifies a method of determining
the force required to propagate a tear through a specified
distance and from a specified slit, cut in a test specimen of thin
3 Definition
flexible plastic sheeting or film, under specified conditions of
loading.
For the purpose of this part of IS0 6383, the following defini-
tion applies.
The upper limit of thickness that can be tested depends on the
tearing force of the material in relation to the capacity of the
tear resistance : The force, in newtons, required to tear a test
testing machine.
specimen by the specified method.

Materials that can be tested according to this method include

flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polyolefin films, but
variable elongation and oblique tearing effects on the more ex-
tensible films may cause poor reproducibility of test results.
This method may not be suitable for testing more rigid
materials such as rigid PVC, nylon and polyester films.
1.2 The tear resistance test specified by this method is ap-
plied to specimens cut from semi-finished and finished pro-
ducts. The test is suitable for the control of production and
manufactured products as well as for acceptance or rejection
testing under specifications for semi-finished and finished pro-
ducts, provided that it has been demonstrated that the data for
a particular material are acceptably reproducible.
1.3 There is no direct linear relationship between tearing
force and specimen thickness. Data from this method are ex-
pressed as tearing force in newtons, with specimen thickness
also reported. Only data obtained at the same thickness should
be compared because sets of data from specimens of dissimilar
thickness are generally not comparable.
4 Principle
A test specimen having a specified precut slit is subjected to a
tearing force generated by the energy stored in a pendulum of
specified dimensions. The energy expended in tearing the
specimen is used to calculate the tear resistance of the
specimen.
5 Apparatus
The test machine shall be of the Elmendorf type (an example of
a suitable test machine is shown diagrammatically in figure 11,
comprising the following.
5.1 Stationary jaw, accurately aligned with a movable jaw
carried on a pendulum, preferably formed by a sector of a
circle, free to swing on ball bearings or other substantially fric-
tionless bearings. Each jaw shall have a clamping surface of not
less than 25 mm in the horizontal direction [dimension b (see

1
IS 13360 ( Part WSec 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6383-2 : 1983

figure l)] and not less than 15 mm in the vertical direction the same sandwich may tear obliquely in opposite directions, which
(dimension cl. The thickness of the fixed portion of each jaw may lead to falsely high results. When this testing behaviour is en-
shall be between 9 and 13 mm (dimension a). When the pen- countered, single specimens must be tested even though scale
dulum is in the initial position, ready for the test, the jaws shall readings may be in the range below 20. For thin film, it is recom-
mended that single specimens and a lower capacity tester be used
be separated by a distance of 2,8 + 0.3 mm and so aligned
rather than several specimens and a higher capacity machine.
that the test specimen clamped in them lies in a plane perpen-
dicular to the plane of oscillation of the pendulum, with the
edges of the jaws gripping the test specimen in a horizontal 8.4 When testing film in the machine (longitudinal) direction,
line, a perpendicular to which through the axis of suspension of test specimens shall be oriented so that their width is cut in the
the pendulum (i.e. the distance between the axis and the top longitudinal direction and, similarly, specimens for transverse
edges of the clamping jaws) is 104 IL 2 mm long and makes an tear strength determinations shall be cut with their width in the
angle of 27,F’ + 36’ with the plane of the test specimen. transverse direction.

5.2 Means for holding the pendulum in a raised position

and for releasing it without imparting shock.
7 Conditioning

Unless otherwise specified by the specification for the material

6.3 Means for determining the energy expended by the being tested, test specimens shall be preconditioned and tested
pendulum in tearing a specimen. This usually consists of a cir- in atmosphere 23/50 as specified in IS0 291, except that when
cumferential scale on the pendulum which indicates against a material is known not to be sensitive to humidity, atmosphere
pointer. The machine shall be accurately calibrated (allowing 23 may be used.
for friction and windage losses) to enable the scale reading to
be used to give the force required to tear the standard test
specimen in newtons, with an accuracy to within 1% This
8 Procedure
calibration shall be periodically checked. Annexes A and B give
instructions for the adjustment and calibration of the
apparatus. 8.1 Determine the thickness of the material being tested by
the method specified in IS0 4591 and IS0 4593.

6.4 Incremental masses, to add to the pendulum to in-

NOTE - IS0 4593 is not suitable for use with embossed film and
crease the tearing force capacity of the machine.
sheeting.

5.5 Suitable measuring equipment, to measure the

8.2 Check that the Elmendorf apparatus is level. Lift and ar-
thickness of the material being tested by the methods specified
rest the pendulum, set the indicating mechanism to the starting
in IS0 4591 and IS0 4593.
position and gently release the pendulum. Check that the
pointer indicates zero and adjust if necessary according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
6 Test specimens

6.1 The test specimen shall have the shape and dimensions 8.3 Carry out a few tests by the procedure specified in 8.4 to
shown in figures 2 or 3. The preferred or referee specimen shall check whether augmenting weights are required or a number of
be the constant-radius specimen (figure 2) because of better test specimens need to be tested simultaneously (see the note
reproducibility (see 8.5). to 6.3) so that on any test the energy of the pendulum ab-
sorbed in tearing lies between 20 and 80 % of the total energy
of the pendulum. Check the zero setting and adjust according
6.2 The test specimen may be cut from the sample using
to the manufacturer’s instructions each time that augmenting
templates and a sharp knife. Special attention shall be given to
weights are fitted or removed.
the cutting of the 20 + 0,5 mm slit, which shall be free of nicks
and ragged edges.
8.4 Lift and arrest the pendulum of the machine and set the
NOTE - Some testing machines have a permanent and integral knife indicating mechanism to its starting point. Carefully position
by which the slit can be cut into the test specimen after mounting in the test specimen, or group of test specimens, in the jaws of
the jaws of the machine. In such cases, the sharpness of this knife and the grips so that the slit is centrally disposed between the fixed
its ability to cut the slit to the correct dimensions should be frequently
and movable jaws of the machine and tighten the clamps firmly
checked.
(see the note). Carefully release the pendulum and read from
the scale the force expended in tearing the specimen or group
6.3 Unless otherwise specified by the specification for the of test specimens.
material being tested, five test specimens [or five groups of test
specimens (see the note11 shall be tested in each principal direc- NOTE - When the machine is fitted with an integral slitting knife,
tion of the film sample, cut from positions evenly spaced across clamp the specimen as in 8.4 and then operate the knife to produce the
the width of the sample. slit (see the note to 6.2).

NOTE - In the case of films of low tear strength, it is permissible to

test a group of two or more test specimens simultaneously in order to 8.5 When constant-radius test specimens (see figure 2) are
meet the requirements of 8.3. Cut the individual test pieces for each used, reject any tests in which the line or tear deviates outside
group adjacent to each other, but space the groups approximately the constant radius section and test additional specimens to
evenly across the width of the sample. However, certain specimens in replace those rejected.

2
 IS 13360 ( Part 5/Set 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6383-2 : 1983

When rectangular test specimens (see figure 3) are used, reject 10 Test report
any tests in which the line of tear deviates more than 10 mm
trom the line of the slit, except when the tear is following a The test report shall include the following :
specific line of an embossed pattern, and test additional
a) a reference to this part of IS0 6383;
specimens to replace those rejected. When the tear deviation
consistently exceeds 10 mm, use the constant-radius test b) complete identification of the material tested including
specimens. type, source, manufacturer’s code, form, principal dimen-
sions and previous history ;
9 Calculation and expression of results C) thickness of the material and method of measurlng
thickness;
9.1 From the scale readings, determine, according to the d) the standard atmosphere of IS0 291 used for condi-
machine manufacturer’s instructions, the force in newtons re- tioning and testing ;
quired to tear each test specimen, taking account of any use of
augmenting weights and groups of specimens torn e) type of test specimen used ;
simultaneously. Record this force in newtons as the tear f) the number of specimens tested, including the number
resistance of each test specimen. in each group if appropriate;

g) the mean tear resistance in each principal direction;

9.2 Calculate the arithmetic mean tear resistance in each
principal direction of the film or sheeting. h) individual test results and standard deviation, if re-
quired ;
9.3 If required, calculate the standard deviation for each set j) any operational details not specified in this part of
of results. IS0 6993 that may have had an influence upon the result.

3
IS 13360 ( Part s/Set 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6363-2 : 1963

Scale -

-Reset control

Sector release _/
mechanism

Figure 1 - Elmendorf tear test apparatus

Dimensions in millimetres

63 +-0.5 m
Width

Slit In
d
-- +I
/
QOkO,S_
/ 2
m
0

Lz.
z

Figure 2 - Constant-radius test specimen Figure 3 - Rectangular test specimen

4
 IS 13360 ( Part 5/Set 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6363-2 : 1963

Annex A

Adjustment and maintenance of the instruments

(This annex does not form part of the Standard.)

Follow the procedure described below for each of the pendulum/additional weight combinations used.

A.1 Inspection

Check the following items and make any necessary adjustments.

a) Check that the pendulum shaft is not bent.

b) Check that the distance between clamps is 2,8 f 0,3 mm and that when the pendulum is in its initial position, the clamps are
in alignment.

c) Check that the knife fitting is secure, and that the cutting edge is sharp and undamaged. The blade shall be situated midway
between, and at right angles to, the top of the clamps.
dl Ensure that the pointer is undamaged and rigidly attached to the sleeve.

A.2 Levelling

Mount the instrument on a rigid bench and, if possible, firmly attach it to the bench.

With the pendulum clamp closed, adjust the level of the instrument so that the pendulum hangs vertically and the index marks on the
pendulum and base coincide. With the stop depressed, displace the pendulum slightly and after it comes to rest, check that the index
marks still coincide.

A.3 Zero adjustment

After levelling, operate the instrument several times with clamps empty and closed to ascertain whether the pointer registers zero. It
zero is not registered, move the adjustable pointer stop.

A.4 Pendulum friction

U/lakea reference mark on the stop mechanism 25 mm to the right of the edge of the pendulum catch. Raise the sector to its initial
losition and set the pointer so that it does not meet the pointer stop when the instrument is operated.

Nhen the sector is released and the pendulum stop held down, the sector should make at least 35 complete oscillations before the
!dge of the sector which engages with the catch no longer passes to the left of the reference mark. Otherwise, clean, oil or adjust the
bearing.

4.5 Tearing length

adjust the position of the knife. Check that the tearing length is 43,0 f 0,5 mm. If this is not so, adjust the dimensions of the
uillotine or template used.

5
IS 13360 ( Part 5/Set 23 ) : 1996
IS0 6363-2 : 1963

Annex B

Calibration of the instrument

(This annex does not form part of the Standard.)

Calibration of the instrument may be checked by measuring the work done by the pendulum in raising various attached weights. The
indicated scale reading is then compared with the amount of work done. Many tear testers are provided with a threaded hole to aid
the attachment of weights. 8

The position of the centre of gravity of the attached weights should be known.

Set up the instrument and check it as specified in annex A. With various weights attached, operate the instrument without a test
piece in position and determine the scale reading and height above a horizontal datum surface of the centre of gravity of the additional
weight corresponding to this scale reading.

Calculate the correct scale readings Y from the formula

y = 9,81 x m x (h - H)
0,088 x P
where

Y is the correct scale reading (scale units) ;

m is the mass, in kilograms, of the added weight;

h is the height, in metres, above the datum surface of the centre of gravity of the attached weight ;
H is the height, in metres, of the centre of gravity of the attached weight above the datum surface with the pendulum in the in-
itial position;

P is the pendulum factor, i.e. theoretically the number of sheets torn simultaneously for which the pendulum scale has been
calibrated to give a direct tearing resistance reading in millinewtons, commonly 8, 16 or 32.

For routine calibration checks, an alternative procedure is to prepare a graph giving (h - HI for different scale readings. It is then
only necessary to determine the scale reading for a given added weight, to read off the corresponding value of Ih - N) and to calcu-
late the error using this value.

Calculated and indicated scale readings should agree to within I? 1 % If they do not, the fault should, if possible, be found and
remedied. Otherwise, prepare a correction chart and adjust the results accordingly.

6
Bureau of Indian Standards

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development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and attending to
connected matters in the country.

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copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.

Review of Indian Standards

Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also reviewed
periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that no changes are
needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users of Indian Standards
should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue
of ‘BIS Handbook’ and ‘Standards : Monthly Additions’.

This Indian Standard has been developed from Dot : No. PCD 23 ( 1386 )

Amendments issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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